Blacked out dummy lights! My version of the How-To

[RagtopE30]

Ok I did the 20% today and it is what I was looking for all along. In direct light you can barely see the dummy icons but in the shade of the dash they are not visible. Light comes through well enough to see the warning lights before its to late. I would post pics but the pics look exactly like the last pics. 20% FTW

P.S. I have a lot of tint left over. If you want some to do your cluster send me your address and I will cut you some to do yours.

[RagtopE30]

Update. 5% tint is to dark in my opinion. I will buy the 15% or 20% and try that instead. With the 5% I can see the light through the tint at night but not during the day. I will update soon.

[RagtopE30]

Ok so if you guys want to do this but dont want to spend the $15 for the roll of tint let me know. I have a ton of it now and I will send you enough to do your cluster plus some. Free, no charge, Just send me your address and I will drop the tint in an envelope and shoot it out. No worries!

[RagtopE30]

Yeah I was trying for that but I couldnt find any matte finish overlay. And all the tint I found was shiny. But the finish is no more shiny than the OBC display or the radio display.

[RagtopE30]

Yeah I was trying for that but I couldnt find any matte finish overlay. And all the tint I found was shiny. But the finish is no more shiny than the OBC display or the radio display.

[george graves]

I'd love to see this with more of a mat finish.

[RagtopE30]

Coming soon to a computer screen near you! My vert is off the road at the moment but I will reinstall the cluster just for the light pic.

[Gadea]

good job. Now....
pics of tinted dummy lights ON?

[RagtopE30]

AHH HAA!! I did it and I think it looks great!! I posted pics in the 1st post, Check it out!

[RagtopE30]

I plan on doing this, this weekend. I will post results.

[lbreevesii]

I tried the smoke paint that I bought at the model shop. The paint is made for the plastic bodies of RC cars so I was pretty sure it was the same stuff but it doesnt look good at all. I even tried the adhesion promoter which helped but the smoke still will not stick to the white lettering or symbols.
The next step for this project is getting some 10% or 15% window tint and try and "wrap" the strips.
I will post the results here

That was the problem I had too.

let us know how the tinting works out. I may go that route.

[blackhawkimpact]

I tried the smoke paint that I bought at the model shop. The paint is made for the plastic bodies of RC cars so I was pretty sure it was the same stuff but it doesnt look good at all. I even tried the adhesion promoter which helped but the smoke still will not stick to the white lettering or symbols.
The next step for this project is getting some 10% or 15% window tint and try and "wrap" the strips.
I will post the results here

^Did that on my previous e30 and it looked pretty good. I just use some window tint, cut the tint to the exact size/shape of the dummy light strip and it looked pretty good. I think I used 15%

If I do it on my current e30 I will post pics.


Good luck

[RagtopE30]

I tried the smoke paint that I bought at the model shop. The paint is made for the plastic bodies of RC cars so I was pretty sure it was the same stuff but it doesnt look good at all. I even tried the adhesion promoter which helped but the smoke still will not stick to the white lettering or symbols.
The next step for this project is getting some 10% or 15% window tint and try and "wrap" the strips.
I will post the results here

[lbreevesii]

See the cluster makeover thread on e30 tech. He did it with RC smoke/tint paint.

I was doing it impatiently, but I tried it on a spare one with niteshades paint, didn't come out too well.

[RagtopE30]

exactly^! I am trying different methods of replicating that right now. I now know that Spray tint and smoke model paint will not stick to the white lettering. I am getting closer though.